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Title IX
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Skip Navigation LinksHome > About Southeast > Title IX at Southeast > Pregnant and Parenting Students

Pregnant & Parenting Students

Title IX protects students in all the academic, educational, extracurricular, and other programs or activities of institutions from gender discrimination. This includes discrimination based on pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from any of these conditions. Further, students should not receive harassment, opportunities, or lack of assistance based on their pregnancy. 

In compliance with this, Minnesota State College Southeast is committed to providing reasonable accommodations such as: 

  • Absences must be excused in conjunction with doctor's permission. 
  • Reasonable amount of time to complete missed classwork. 

While a pregnant or parenting student may work directly with their faculty member to arrange accommodation. It is recommended that students request accommodation through the Office of Accessibility.   

Breast Feeding and Lactation Rooms 

Southeast provides lactation rooms on both campuses. On the Red Wing Campus, the room is 313G. On the Winona Campus, the room is 204K. 

Your rights as outlined by the Office of Civil Rights

Here are some important things you should know about your rights as outlined by the Office of Civil Rights.

Excused Absences and Medical Leave

Your school MUST: 

  • Excuse absences due to pregnancy or childbirth for as long as your doctor says it is necessary. 
  • Allow you to return to the same academic and extracurricular status as before your medical leave began, which should include giving you the opportunity to make up any work missed while you were out. 
  • Ensure that teachers understand the Title IX requirements related to excused absences/medical leave. Your teacher may not refuse to allow you to submit work after a deadline you missed because of pregnancy or childbirth. If your teacher's grading is based in part on class participation or attendance and you missed class because of pregnancy or childbirth, you should be allowed to make up the participation or attendance credits you didn't have the chance to earn. 
  • Provide pregnant students with the same special services it provides to students with temporary medical conditions. This includes homebound instruction/at-home tutoring/independent study. 

Harassment

Your school MUST: 

  • Protect you from harassment based on sex, including harassment because of pregnancy or related conditions. Comments that could constitute prohibited harassment include making sexual comments or jokes about your pregnancy, calling you sexually charged names, spreading rumors about your sexual activity, and making sexual propositions or gestures, if the comments are sufficiently serious that it interferes with your ability to benefit from or participate in your school's program. 

Policies and Procedures

Your school MUST: 

  • Have and distribute a policy against sex discrimination. It is recommended that the policy make clear that prohibited sex discrimination covers discrimination against pregnant and parenting students. 
  • Adopt and publish grievance procedures for students to file complaints of sex discrimination, including discrimination related to pregnancy or parental status. 
  • Identify at least one employee in the school or school district to carry out its responsibilities under Title IX (sometimes called a "Title IX Coordinator") and notify all students and employees of the name, title, and contact information of its Title IX Coordinator. These responsibilities include overseeing complaints of discrimination against pregnant and parenting students. 

 

Helpful Tips for Pregnant and Parenting Students

  • Ask your school for help--meet with your school's Title IX Coordinator or counselor regarding what your school can do to support you in continuing your education. 
  • Keep notes about your pregnancy-related absences, any instances of harassment and your interactions with school officials about your pregnancy, and immediately report problems to your school's Title IX Coordinator, counselor, or other staff. 
  • If you feel your school is discriminating against you because you are pregnant or parenting, you may file a complaint: 
    • Using your school's internal Title IX grievance procedures
    • With the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), even if you have not filed a complaint with your school. If you file with OCR, make sure you do so within 180 days of when the discrimination took place. 
    • In court, even if you have not filed a complaint with your school or with OCR. 
     
  • Contact OCR if you have any questions. We are here to help make sure all students, including pregnant and parenting students, have equal educational opportunities. 

 

If you want to learn more about your rights contact Kenney White, Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator or the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, at (800) 421-3481 or [email protected].